Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-11-04
PROFESSIONS FOR WOMEN
Ella Wheeler on Women Struggling
for Gold and ry--WouId be Fe-
male Poets and Writers.
To Women Who Ask Fer AdTiee-Wo.
men Biind:tO Their Deficiencies
Y0GRg Girls and the Stage.
Some Hints For Stage Struck Maidsns-A
Profession suggested for Young wo-
mun-Hhat They Should Exp:cs.
(UonYrIphted. ISL

| One OF the most difficult things in life is
wisely and satisfactorily to &dvlse an
other person. The most difficult OF all
is wisely and satisfactorily to advise q
woman.
At the present time there are more
women struggling for an individual place
in the world of achievement than ever be-
/ fore. Any woman who has in the least
degree attained succs So in her chosen vo-
cation is sppealed to as an oracle by
hCrdes of ambitious beginners, and
/ begged to show them the w.y. Scarcely
q mail strives that does not bring NE enc
or more letters from girls or women who
ere DESTROYS OF earning gold or glory. So
numerous have these appeals become
that an open letter OF advice seems to be
the only response possible, as separate
reply to eEch request would oblige me
/ 10 dispense with all other occupations.
The ma ority OF the women who write
me say that it Is necessary for them TO be
! self-suppoItiag, and having heard thst
literature is 8 profitable business, will /
| be so kind as to tell them how to get into
the favor OF editors. Almost always they
! irclose several Of their productions for
my criticism. Often they request me to
send their articles to magazines andrews
papers with personal letter of recon-
mendation. The Enclosures are usually
of medium merit, Ofren absolutely worth
LEES from 3 marketable standpoint.
In my whole literary experience l never
received but one Ms from s young lady
which evinced sufficient genius TO Justify
me in urging her to attempt literature as
profession and means Of support. She
possessed heaYen-born gift, and with
out my advice the force Of her genius
would nave compelled her to write.
believe more strongly each day l live
that true genius or great ability seldom
seeks advice. II only seeks an outlet.
The srtesian spring has to be bored and
it's course directed. The natural spring
forces its own way through earth and
rock.
The woman who does not feel that she
has thoughts and expressions within her
strong enough to force their way through
every obstacle sndIto compelIthe world 10
listen can never hope for marked success
in literature.
If she feels that urcOnquerabIe impulse
toward creation which is divine in it's
source and power, she will not ask to be
shown the way out OF the loSm into the
light. Success may be long in coming,
out she will win it at last without being
led into it.
The author who will succeed is not the
one who loses hope sitter encounterilg
obstacles, and sits bac8 languidly waiting
for older writer's to dispose Of her work.
But it requires decided talent, persever-
eDce, and patience, an uncOrquerable
ambition, and an intense love Of the work
TO attain success in literature.
There is 10 worthy or absolute success
possible in labor we dislike. Unless
the hearts blood aDd the brsin'S fire
mingle in the effort il cannot thrive. We
must, however, bring something beside
enthusiasm TO profession OF any kind.
We must bring ability or ct least adapt
ability. I am afraid women are more
blind to their deficiencies ia this respect
than men.
I once knew lady who was consumed
with passion for the stage. She had no
voice, no physique, no dramatic or humor
Gus ability, no power. Yet year after year
she made her arrangements with stubborn
perseverance,, and appeared IN various
roles and companies as an actress. Her
appearances were asuCCession Of failures.
Nothing better than & third-rate success
was ever achieved by her. All her NOR
tifYing fisscOs she attributed to accident,
all her unfaVorable notices 20 envy or
lack of Judgment. she lived and died,
after having wasted her youth and for
tune in the belief that she was gifted with
great dramatic power. Her perseverance
ard energy would have won her bril-
liant success in any labor or vocation for
which she possessed q particle OF ability.
Many young ladies ask my advice con-
corning q dramatic career for themselves.
The ply is great factor in the emuse-
ment-lcving world. We must be enter
tanned, and times flies, young actors grow
old, Gid ones die, and the ranks needs
must be filed. It is worthy profession,
when worthy natures adorn 1t. But it is
q hard life at its easiest and best. IN
dramatic career more than any other
q woman should feel the impelling force
OF great talent Or the extreme command
of necessity before she enters upon it.
as a rule ii calls for the sacrifice OF all
domestic comfort, the outlay of every
particle Of brain and body power, AID
demands unremittipg drudgery for years
before tie rewards are obtained. After !
the rewards do come the labor Of study |
and rehearsal and constant appearances
and allows no time for home life.
The pretty young girl who dreams only |
of glory and riches, needs to weigh al |
these considerations calmly before SAG
ventures upon this most arduous and m !
certain Of careers.
So many and great are the obstacles in
the way Of success in literature or on the
stage, can but wonder at the persist |
ency of girls and women who, without.l
ability or reason, stand before the locked I
doors Of these professions and beg their |
older sisters, VINO have found an entrance !
for themselves, to LEI them in.
Women are often so imprecticEbIe. I
do not think il is the fault Of sex, but the |
result OF custom. They have been kepEs
out of the active business avenues so long
that now, when they are permitted or
compelled to walk thereiD, they go utterly |
st random. 4
One young lady wrote to me concerns
ing her very sad snd pathetic situation, I
and begging me to assist her to some kind /
of work.
She said il I could lend her or borrow !
for her $500 it would enable her to take |
lessons in bookkeeping, and then she
could earn money TO support herself and |
sged mother, and in time repsy the loan. |
tried TO make her realize that it WoijiG /
be quicker and more certain methCdiC4
earning livelihood to do good house,
work than 70 borrow money 70 learE 81
al Iyz tSrfe3